National Nurses United

NewsBriefs_OCT 12/27/11 2:26 PM Page 8 NEWS BRIEFS ty, ratios, the Main Street Contract, and NNU's proposed tax on Wall Street. Veterans Affairs Florida the registered nurse negotiating team bargaining a first contract for 10 HCA-affiliated hospitals in Florida made significant progress this fall, most notably achieving tentative agreement on the creation of RNonly professional practice committees at each facility for the first time ever. Professional practice committees are charged with making recommendations to management on improving patient care, providing input on safe lifting, standards of professional practice, methods of patient care, new technologies, and workplace safety. "We are ecstatic to be the first RNs in Florida to reach a tentative agreement on an all-bedside RN professional practice committee for our first contract," said Peggy South, an endoscopy RN at Community Hospital in New Port Richey. "The PPC sets the standard for registered nurses at our 10 hospitals." National Nurses Organizing CommitteeFlorida nurses also made tentative agreements on other basic contract articles, such as a prohibition against working mandatory overtime, what happens to the union and contract if a hospital is sold, and how job postings and vacancies at their facilities are handled. The Florida nurses continue their negotiations and hope to finalize a complete tentative agreement soon. Ohio this fall, ohio rns have been busy promoting NNU's call for a tax on Wall Street, defending union rights, and supporting the Occupy movement. On Nov. 3, nurses joined NNU's International Day of Action and met with Sen. Sherrod Brown's staff in Washington, D.C. to ask him to support a 8 N AT I O N A L N U R S E U.S. financial transaction tax (FTT).  And on Nov. 8, Ohio voters rejected Issue 2 (SB5), which would have severely restricted the ability of public employees to collectively bargain. RNs from all over the state worked hard to defeat this measure by joining phone banking, labor walks, and get-out-the-vote activities.  Cincinnati RN, Bernadene Zennie, had been in New York City's Zuccotti Park supporting Occupy Wall Street since mid September. She is now back in Ohio and organizing a national march on Washington for March 30, 2012. Cleveland RNs joined several public rallies supporting Occupy Cleveland, where they have been educating the public about the Main Street Contract for the American People. In addition, Cleveland nurses have been providing first aid support to occupiers as well as teach-ins to promote safety in the cold weather. Through their actions, RNs have increased awareness about single-payer healthcare, patient safe- From top: Florida HCA nurses are hard at work bargaining their first contract; Ohio RNs have been busy promoting the tax on Wall Street and defending union rights. W W W. N A T I O N A L N U R S E S U N I T E D . O R G nnu-va mobilized more than 100 nurses to attend the International Week of Action: Make Wall Street Pay rally in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 3. Nurses had a great time networking with other RNs and supporting the financial tax on Wall Street, returning home energized and ready to get down to business. NNU-VA is sending nurses to educate other RNs across the Veterans Affairs system about Executive Order 13552, which established Labor Management Forums, and 38 USC 7422, which curbs the bargaining rights of RNs. The initial training for the trainers will be done January through March. The trainers will then go throughout the VA to make sure staff understands bargaining rights under the constraints of the law for RNs in the VA system.  Veterans Affairs is the only federal sector that has these constraints. Nurses cannot bargain over anything related to pay, compensation, peer review (e.g. evaluations), and anything related to direct patient care. These restrictions are severely limiting to our bargaining ability. Nurses in the Department of Defense do not have these restrictions though they are also federal employees. These laws need to be changed. But until we can get them changed, the nurses we represent need to know how to work within these limitations to meet their needs.  VA master contract negotiations continue and progress is being made. The negotiation team is now in Tampa, Fla. from November 2011 through April 2012 for contract negotiation sessions with VA management. Members have the opportunity to observe some of the sessions and are welcome, but must first coordinate with the negotiating team. Contact your director if you are in the Tampa area and want to be considered for an observer slot. —Staff report NOVEMBER 2011

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